Hello everyone, I hope you guys/gals can help me with a couple questions...
 
1. When I right click in the FX Bin, Select Audio FX, then the VST where I have about 50-60 plugins it is only showing about 25-30 (small laptop screen). I wanted to know if there is a way to show two or more rows side by side where it will show all the plugins all at once instead of having to scroll? Also, scrolling is awfully slow when looking for a plugin.
 
2. I saw that Cubase had a very nice drum midi editor built in, is there a way to get the same single click to drop in a midi note without have to worry about dragging it to a specific length? In other words, how can I just click in a note instead of having to drag click?
 
3. In the Piano Roll, changing the view to "Use these Note Names Instead" (General MIDI Drums) does not show all the appropriate names for the drum sounds in Steven Slate Drums or Superior Drummer... is there a way to edit them? Or possibly a template that is already setup for that?
 
4. Is there a way to get other midi metronome sounds? I really like that ProTools Cubase standard metronome click sound.
 
5. Is there a way to show more plugins in the console view instead of just three at a time?
 
Thanks a bunch!

On the long list of VSTs question, you can use the Manage Layouts function to arrange your plugins the way you want. The Insert > Soft Synth > Plug-in Layouts > Manage Layouts command opens the Cakewalk Plug-in Manager. 
 
That will open the plug-in manager. You can arrange your plug-ins any way you like. You can create groups of plug-ins, add separators, etc. and shrink that long list way down. Save your new layout and then use it when you add plug-ins. Each area of Sonar has its own layouts so you can have a separate list for your soft synths. For detailed info on the plug-in manager, click the help button once you have it open. I couldn't manage without it.
 

2+3 Use a drum map and the Drum Grid pane in the PRV http://www.cakewalk.com/Documentation/default.aspx?Doc=SONAR%20X3&Lang=EN&Req=DrumEditor.01.html
 

Also, once that list appears, you can type in the first letter of whatever you are searching for, and that should re-position the list at the first item that starts with that letter (or the next one if none match that typed letter).  You can then move further down that list by typing that same letter again and again, which will continue to move through the list one item at a time.
 
So, give that a shot and see if that helps.
 
Bob Bone
 

I've never understood why that list doesn't mousewheel scroll. Sure, layouts and all that...but this before layouts and since layouts get lost relatively easily being able to have the master list to default to happens pretty often. 

Why not use the plugin browser and drag and drop instead of the menu? You can even spotlight search in the browser. Menus are not that quick when you have hundreds of plugins.

Thanks for the responses! I do have several folders and I also have a folder with all the plugins... The plugin browser is the new feature in the X series that pops up on the right side of the screen, right? I seem to recall you can drag the fx into your track that way... thanks for the tips! Why not have this same feature in the fx bin mode?
 
Scook: I did a quick search for SSD 4 drum maps and couldn't find anything... the cakewalk link wasn't very informative but it definitely gives me somewhere to start! Thanks!
 
 

Just found out that for my 'drag click' issue you can hold Alt and then click and it will create a note without having to drag. I wonder if there is a way to lock that in place?
 

Yeah I've finally started using the browser too, it's just that when you're mixing and the mouse is in the widget pane the fx bin is just RIGHT THERE. :-)

The plug-in browser organizes your plug-ins based on the layout you have set as active. So you can optimize the browser too!